Quad

Elon University

Elon, NCQuad's selectivitySelective
Known forHigh graduation rateTest-optional heavy
WebsiteAdmissionsApplyVisitFinancial aid

Updates

What changed

New and revised figures from the latest data releases, each with its year.

Published Oct 8, 2026

  • Fall 2025: middle 50% SAT Reading & Writing 590–690 (fall 2024: 580–650)Elon University Common Data Set 2025–26
  • Fall 2025: middle 50% SAT Math 580–660 (fall 2024: 550–630)Elon University Common Data Set 2025–26
  • Fall 2025: middle 50% ACT composite 25–31 (fall 2024: 23–28)Elon University Common Data Set 2025–26
  • Fall 2027 applicants: Required for some applicants (fall 2024: Test-optional)Elon University Common Data Set 2025–26
  • Fall 2025: 6,150 undergraduates (fall 2024: 6,452)Elon University Common Data Set 2025–26
  • Entered fall 2024: 89% returned for a second year (entered fall 2023: 90%)Elon University Common Data Set 2025–26

Sources:Elon University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025;Elon University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2027 applicants;Elon University Common Data Set 2025–26, Entered fall 2024About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)

Admissions · Fall 2025

6 in 10 applicants admitted

Elon admits about 6 in 10 applicants (63%). That puts it in the "Selective" tier, more selective than 73% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

63%

63%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivitySelective

Applied

18,557

Admitted

11,740

Yield

11%

of admits enroll

Avg. GPA

3.88

SAT middle 50%

1190–1340

10001600
ACT middle 50%

25–31

1836
Applications +73% since fall 2014 · admit rate 54% → 66%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A medium campus of 6,150 undergrads, where 10% receive Pell Grants, a low share compared to other colleges.

6.2K

undergrads · larger than 81% of colleges

Diversity index

0.44

Pell Grant

10%

below the median

First generation

9%

below the median

Midsize suburbNCAA D-I FCS · Colonial Athletic AssociationROTCStudy abroadUndergrad research
More diverse · index 0.32 → 0.42 (to fall 2024) since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Communication Management and Strategic Communications (9% of graduates). 11 students for every faculty member, fewer than at 68% of colleges. 82% of faculty are full-time. Spends $19,988 a year on instruction per student.

11 to 1

students per faculty member · fewer than at 68% of colleges

Most popular major

Communication Management and Strategic Communications

9% of 2024–25 graduates

Top-earning major

Economics

$112.3K four years after completion

Full-time faculty

82%

of faculty

Instruction spending

$20K

per student a year

All majors with search, earnings by major, and faculty

Cost & aid · 2023–24

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $48,751 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $24.5K more than the national median. The 77% who received grants paid $44,440 on average; the other 23% paid the full sticker price of $62,514.

22%

$48.8K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $24.5K above the national median

$0$110K$400K+
Full price
$62,514 a year
tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid
Little need-based aid above $110K
aid thins out for families above that income
Merit aid
47% · avg $13K
of first-years without need got merit aid
Aid generosity

Limited

grants cover 22% of full price

Federal loans

24%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits
Cost steady · −1% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $74,545 ten years after enrolling, more than at 87% of colleges; 83% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 2.6 years of that salary.

83%

83%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$74.5K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$20.5K

≈ $217/month for 10 years

Retention

89%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 81% → 84% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price rose 9% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid held about steady, because grants grew faster. Applications rose 73% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 54% to 66%.

  • Cost

    Steady

    −1% after inflation

  • Applications

    Growing

    +73%

  • Selectivity

    Less selective

    admit rate 54% → 66% (to fall 2024)

  • Diversity

    More diverse

    index 0.32 → 0.42 (to fall 2024)

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

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Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

  1. 1
    IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  2. 2
    College Scorecard

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  3. 3
    Elon University Common Data Set 2025–26

    Elon University · Fall 2025; Fall 2027 applicants; Entered fall 2024; 2025–26 (estimated); 2025–26; Fall 2026 entrants; Entered fall 2019; Fall 2026 cycle; 2026–27; Class of 2025 · retrieved 2026-10-05

  4. 4
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  5. 5
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  6. 6
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  7. 7
    IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12

  8. 8
    College Scorecard Field of Study data

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  9. 9
    IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  10. 10
    IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  11. 11
    Common Data Set

    Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  12. 12
    IPEDS Admissions survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  13. 13
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  14. 14
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  15. 15
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  16. 16
    IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  17. 17
    IPEDS Outcome Measures survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  18. 18
    IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  19. 19
    Elon University (2026)

    Elon University · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 198516 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything